WASHINGTON — Senators made more promises of congressional investigations into the Crandall Canyon Mine accident Tuesday, this time pledging bipartisanship along with thoroughness.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, sits on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP committee, which oversees mine safety. Hatch, along with committee Chairman Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and top Republican Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., announced Tuesday that they will work together to make sure the accident is fully examined to see what could have been done to avoid the disaster and how to make mines safer.

"My home state has suffered greatly the past few weeks as we have first watched miners being trapped in the Crandall Canyon Mine, and then brave rescuers suffering injury and death," Hatch said in a statement. "I am committed to supporting those gathering the facts. If this tragedy could have been prevented, we will learn what we need to so this never happens again. Utahns are grieving together, now we must all work together in the best interests of the miners, their families and the mining industry. "

The senators said they will work with the Labor Department and the Mine Safety and Health Administration to make sure the investigation is done right.

Kennedy said he is "united" with Hatch and Enzi in finding out what happened at the mine Aug. 6 when six men were trapped after a "seismic event" registered 3.9 on the Richter scale. State and federal mining officials have said the event was a "bump," or violent shifting of materials. Ten days later, a team of nine rescuers trying to reach the trapped men were subjected to a similar bump, which killed three and injured six others.

"Our nation owes our brave miners a rigorous federal mine safety system," Kennedy said. "Together, in a bipartisan manner, we'll move forward to ensure that they have the protection they deserve."

Kennedy sent a letter to the Labor Department last week asking for numerous documents on the mine and Murray Energy. A Senate Appropriations subcommittee has a hearing planned for Sept. 5. The House Education and Labor Committee will have a hearing the first week of October and has also requested numerous documents.

Enzi said it is "critical" that the committee work with the Labor Department in a bipartisan way.

"The tragic events in Utah have again reminded all of us of the dangers that our nation's miners face," Enzi said. "As we have in the past, we intend to work together to ensure optimal safety conditions for the men and women who work in our nation's mines. Every miner deserves to return home safely at the end of the day. Even one avoidable accident is one too many, and we must work together to reduce the safety risk for miners everywhere."

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